The sloping contours of this exquisite sandalwood box resemble the edge of a scimitar sword. Hand carved by Mozambican artisans near the capital city of Maputo, each box is affixed with a round mpingo wood knob.

Mozambique's proximity to the Indian Ocean and Madagascar made her ports important strongholds for the Swahili trade routes in the early days of the past millennium. Modern Mozambique has been shaped in part by Arabian, Portuguese, British and French interests that sought control of the coastal trade.